Miller



Sept. 4, 1951 c. MILLER PLUG AND RECEPTACLE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 22. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 14 TTORNEY C. MILLER PLUG AND RECEPTACLE CONSTRUCTION Sept. 4, 1951 2 Shee csSheet 2 Original Filed June 22. 1948 m w M w W Z 9 6 W7 fi C 4 1 J m mw a {4 V w M 7 m 5 a awmm A TTORN'EY Reissued Sept. 4, 1 951 PLUG AND RECEPTACLE CONSTRUCTION Christian Miller, Norwalk, Conn assignortoEdwards and Company, Inc Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of New York Original No. 2,503,286, dated April 11,1950, Serial No. 34,535, June '22, 1948. Application for reissue DecemberZZ, 1950, Serial No, 202,283

(01. 200-511) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appearsln thc-origlnaLP tentbut forms no-part of this 11 Claims.

reissue specification; --mattcr printed in italics in This application is .a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 742,694, now abandoned, =filed April 19, 1947. o

This invention relates to a disconnectable plug .andreceptacle construction for use in a hospital signalling system wherein the patient can actuate one or more signals and the circuits operating those signals can be restored by the attendant only at the place the signal as initiated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide sucha plug andreceptacle so designed that ifthe plug becomes detached from the receptacle, the signal circuits are closed and the signals are actuated and remain so until re-set by an attendant. Y Y

(It is a further obiect of the invention to provide such a device in which, when it has been set so th t the signals will not be actuated after removal ofzthe plug-means are provided in the plug-,toput the device in operatingcondition upon insertion of the pluginto the receptacle.

Further andadditional objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention consistsin the features of construction, combination of clementsand arrangement of parts as will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter-described and the scope of the applicationof which willbe indicated in the following claims.

for manual actaationafter removal of the plug connector;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary crossssectional View as seen along the line 5-:5 of Fig. 1, showing the special de i n of he receptacle contact fin conn c d to he grou der return circuit;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the operating plunger;

Fig. '7 is a cross-section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent those reference characters;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4

looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent those characters;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9--9 of dicates :the additions made :by :reissue. 2

Fig. 10is a plan view of theoconductive or Short circuit plate;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section of the plug and receptacle in assembled position; and

Fig. '12 is a fragmentary cross-section as. seen along the line 4-4 oj'Fig..,1, showing the plunger inpits pre-setposition to prevent actuation of the signals and the relative position of the cooperatingplug elements about to be assembled. to the receptacle.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to Fig.1. a wallmounting plate 20 is provided with appropriateopenings so that the upper (portionil of .one or more receptacles-may bcsecured therein. flush with outer .face oimounting plate 20. ,Eachoneof portions 2| accommodatcsa 1 1113.22 to .whichelectrical conductors .23 ,extending ,to-the .patients switching device (not shown) are attached.

Referring.moresparticularly-to Fig. 2, the plug consistsof a casing, mounting block 25 made .of insulating material. to which the desired numbcnofcontactfingers12 6 are suitablyfixed inany desirable -mannerand connected to their respecti-vecircuitsas-shown at 2-1, and retaining ring 3-2 to holdmounting block'25 in'its'proper posir216 atfl'l and-pass through holes-29 in casing-124.

Mounting block .25 is provided with an indentation 301 having an inclined face 3 l, the purpose of which will be hereinafterdescribed.

Referring to'Figs. 3 and 4, the receptacle comprises two portions, upper portion "M and lower viewed in Fig. 4) ,both being made Lower portion 33 (Figs.

portion 33 *(as of insulating material.

4 and 12) has a bottom part 33b in'the external I sides of which extend vertical grooves 41 (Fig. 3), forming rribs R therebetween which extend --in spaced relation (Fig. 9) to terminate at their upper ends '(Fi'g. 4) in'a centrally apertured transverse flange part 33a (Fig. 8), thereby extending the grooves-'41 through the latter. Upper portion 21 hash transverse flange-like part 21a to mate with the flange part 33a and is centrally apertured (Fig. 7) and shaped to have vertically ertending rib-like parts R which in assembly of the-parts respectively overlie the rib-like parts -R of the lower portion 33, forming therebetween not actuate, the switching open at that. device. 4,

' in lower portion 33 in side of contact fingers '39 one 26 to move contact obvious that],

, pertains.

(see Fig. 7) continuations of the slots or grooves 41; upper portion 21 has a top wall 21b provided with a central hole 21c, and grouped about the latter (as shown in Fig. 1) are holes 46, one for each of the spaces between the rib-like parts just described. Upper portion 2| is provided with lugs 34 which fit into recesses36 in lower portion 33 (see Fig. 8). In order to insure that portions 2| and 33 are properly assembled, lugs 34 and recesses 36 are of different size. Means are also provided, such as threaded holes 31 and 38 (see Figs. 7 and 8) in the flanges 21a and 33a through' which bolts B may be passed, to secure portions 2| and 33 firmly together after assembly.

There may be as many signalling circuits asdesired. In the form illustrated, five contact fingers *[26] 39 in the receptacle 21'--33 are provided for four signalling circuits and five companion contact fingers or prongs 26 in the plug connector 22, one contact finger ofeach functioning, as hereinafter described, to close or complete the return or ground circuit. Thecircuits through the device are made from the patients switch (not shown) at the end of conductors 23 through contact fingers 26 in plug 22 to the companion or en a ed. contact fingers [39] inthereceptacle [33] 21-33, then to a permanent circuit in the wall through connectors) of which there is one for each of the spring contact fingers of the 5 receptacle 21-33. ,When the patient operates oneor more switching devices, thereturn circuit and one or more of the signalling circuits are closed in this manner. When the patient does (Figs. 3 and 4) are mounted grooves 4| designed for that purpose and they extend upwardly between the Contact fingers 39 device, these circuits are rib-likeparts R. of the lower portion 33 and into the upper portion 21 between the rib-like parts R of the latter, each terminating just below a hole 46 in' the top wall 21b (Fig. 4). Contact fingers 39, which are made of a resilient electrically conductive material, are firmly held in place byv screws 42 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 12) or in any other appropriate manner. However, for positive operation of the device, there is mounted radially outor more backing springs 43.

that purpose in portion 2| and engage contact fingers 39'as shown in Fig. 11. However, when plug-22' is detached from the receptacle [it is pleted] extended through contact fingers 26 and 39 because these sets of fingers are'separated.

1 ."ThiS invention provides a means whereby sig- :.nals can 'be'transmitted when the above condition In general, this'means comprises a conductive or [short circuiting] circuit-closing plate 41 positioned in a properly formed in-the upper part of portion 33. This recess recess is in- ;dicated at 330 in Figs. 3 and 8, being formed in the upper ends of the rib-like parts R of the lower portion 33, the plate 47 thereby resting with its provided with substantially [2| and 33] 21-33, contact,

Contact fingers 39 have spring V-, bends 44 which, when the device is assembled, co

'47 received in the recess 33c.

upper face substantially flush with the upper face portion 33, the rib-like parts R of the former (Figs. 7 and 8) overlie those portions of the plate Connection through plate 41 is made in the following manner: When the plug 22 is detached, contact fingers 39, due to their shape and spring-like action, move inwardly and contact plate 41; thus the circuits are completed from the permanent circuits in the wall through connectors 4|), contact fingers 39, plate 41, and back through whichever contact finger 39 has been chosen for the ground or return circuit. In the case of the contact finger 39b chosen for the ground or return circuit, a

slightly different construction is employed, as

shown in Fig. 5. In the'case of the return circuit, there is no need to break the contact in the receptacle since all circuits are broken on the other side. Therefore, there is provided two contact fingers 39a and 39b for thispurpose. Contact finger 39a is arranged radially inside of contact finger 39b, and, in general, is of the same shape but is shorter than contact finger 39b. As shown in Fig. 5, contact finger 39a does not extend upwardly to an extent where it could be engaged'by a contact finger of the plug 22 and preferably it has its upper end bent over onto the contact plate 47. Contact finger 39a is in contact with plate 41 at all times. Accordingly contact finger 391), when engaged by a contact finger 26 of plug 22, is moved radially outwardly and away from contact plate 47, just as are the other contact fingers 3.9 (see Figs. '11 and 12), but contact finger 39a remains in contact with plate 47. I g

[Frequently it is desired 'to remove plug 22 without actuating all or any of the signal circuits. This is accomplished in the present device by having aJA manually operated plunger 48 is centrally disposed in' an opening designed for that purpose in lower portion 33. Plunger 48, as shown [most clearly] in Fig. 6, has an upper reduced or stem section 49 which, in its normal position as shown in Fig. 11, extends through hole 210 and above the upper portion 2| into a recess 49a provided for that purpose in plug 22. Below stem section 49, plunger 48 has a section 50, of enlarged diameter and having a laterally extending rectangular lug 50a extending over the length of section 50. Below section 50 is a frusto-conical section 5| which has a flat portion 5|a, and below thecircuits are no longer'[com of substantially the same diameter as stem section 49. [As] As may be seen from Fig. 4, plunger 48 is disposed in receptacle portions 2| and33 in the following manner when in its normal position: Sections 50 and 50a generally extend from top wall 21 b of upper portion 2| to and slightly into lower portion 33, the plate 47 (Figs. 8 and 10) is out out to accommodatethem for up and down movement relative thereto, the frusto-conical section 5| is located in lower portion 33, above the bottom. part 331) and is surrounded by the rib-like parts R (see Fig. 9) and by the contact fingers 39 between the parts R, and the upper face of frusto-conical section 5| is close. to the lower surface of plate 41. The lower stem portion 52 extends through a central bore in lower section 33 almost to the bottom thereof.

1 The bore through which stemfsection52 extends is enlarged, as shown at 53, to provide space for a spring surrounding stem section 52 and exerting pressure against the lower face of frustoconical section 5i. [In theposition shown in Fig. 4- the part of frusto-conical section 51 which is of smaller diameter is opposite the U-shaped bends in contact fingers 39, thereby allowing contact fingers 39 to be in contact with plate 41. when plug 22 is withdrawn. If it is desired to prevent the signals being actuated when plu 22 is withdrawn, plunger 48 is depressed by an attendant as shown at 55- in Fig. 4.] A washer 60 is provided in portion 33 to prevent section of plunger 48 from striking the top of portion [33] 2|. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the part of frusto-conical section 51 which is of smaller diameter is opposite the U-shaped bends 45 in contact fingers 39, thereby allowing contact finger 39 to be in contact with plate 47 when plug 22 is withdrawn.

If it is desired to [prevent] re-set the signals [being] actuated when plug 22 is withdrawn, plunger 43 is depressed by an attendant, as shown at in Fig. 4. This puts plunger 48 in the position shown in Fig. 12 and the portion of frusto-conical section 5| of larger diameter bears against the U-shaped bends 45 in contact with fingers 39, moving them outwardly so that contact between con-tact fingers 39 and plate 4'! is broken and the circuits are opened at that point. Neither contact finger 39a nor contact finger 39b for the return circuit is bent outward- 1y away from plate 41. by plunger 48, because plunger 48 is placed in the receptacle portion 33 so that fiat portion 5la of frusto-conical section 5| is adjacent to contact fingers 39a, 39b and does not result in any camming action.

In order to keep plunger 48 in the position shown in Fig. 12 without having to continue pressure of the attendants finger, a locking device is provided. This consists of ears 55 mounted on a spring device 51 and 51a attached to lower portion 33 in the manner shown at 58 or in any other suitable manner. Spring 51,, 51a is so designed that it tends to move ears 55 radially inward. In the normal position of plunger 4.8. these cars rest against the side of rectangular lug section 560.. However, when plunger 4.8 is depressed, as in Fig. 12, ears 55 rest on the top surface of rectangular lug section 50a, thereby holding it down against the pressure of spring 54 and any vertical force exerted against frustoconical section 5l. End 59 of spring 51 is shaped to cooperate with recess 38 and inclined wall 3! of that recess in plug 22 so that, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12, when the plug is assembled to the receptacle 21-33 and its contact fingers 26 inserted into the receptacle, surface 3| bears against spring end 59 so as to move it radially outward into the position shown in Fig. 1.1 and release plunger 48. In this way plunger 48 returns to its normal position when plug 22 is inserted, but contact between contact fingers 39 and plate 41 is prevented because. contact fingers 26 have moved into position and forced contact fingers 39 radially outward and out of contact with plate 41. It is to .be noted, as shown in Fig. 11, that contact fingers 28 are made of length suiiiciently to assure contact with contact fingers 39, but do not extend so that any of them can [,I touch plate 47 at any time [touch plate 47].

I claim:

1. In a hospital signalling system, a plug,

and receptacle combination in which the plug has a plurality of electrical contacts and the receptacle has a plurality of corresponding springlike electrical: contacts, means comprisin an electrically conductive plate adapted for con-- tacting said contacts in said receptacle and thereby [short circuiting] interconnecting: the circuits, connected to said contacts, when said plug is removed from: said receptacle, and means for manually preventing only certain of said contacts from contacting said plate, said' last-.- ment-ioned' means including a manually operated plunger having a f-rusto-conical section [cooperating with said contacts in said receptacle] for coaction with certain of said" receptacle con-. facts and a straight section juxtaposed to the other of said" receptacle contacts whereby only the former are moved out of engagement with said contact plate in response to manual actua tion of said plunger.

2. In a hospital signalling system, a plug and receptacle combination in which the plug has a plurality of electrical contacts and the receptacle has a plurality of corresponding spring-like elec-. trical contacts, means comprising an electrically conductive plate adapted for contacting said contacts in said receptacle and thereby [short circuiting] interconnecting the circuits connected to said contacts when said plug is removed from said receptacle, and means for manually [preventing said contacts from] moving only certain of said receptacle contacts away from said plate, said last-mentioned means including a manually operated plunger having a frusto-conical section [co-operating with said contacts in said reeeptacle,] for coaction with said certain receptacle contacts and a straight section juxtaposed to the other of the receptacle contacts whereby only the former are moved out of engagement with said contact plate in response to manual actuation of said plunger, said plunger having means forming a lag thereon substantially on 3 the other side 0 the axis of said plunger from said straight section, and means [for locking said plunger in a position where it prevents said contacts from contacting said plate] cooperating with said lug for locking said plunger in ac.- tuated position and thereby holding the contacts moved by it out of engagement with said conductivc plate.

3. In a hospital signalling system, a plug and receptacle combination in which the plug has a plurality of electrical contacts and the receptacle has a plurality of corresponding spring-like electrical contacts, means comprising an electrically conductive plate adapted for contacting said contacts in said receptacle and thereby [short circuiting] interconnecting the circuits connected to said contacts when said plug is removed from said receptacle [and], means for manually [preventing] moving only certain of said receptacle contacts away from [contacting] said plate, said last-mentioned means including a manually operated plunger having a frustoconical section [co-operating] for coaction with said certain receptacle contacts [in said receptacle] and a straight section juxtaposed to the other of the receptacle contacts whereby only the former are. moved out of engagement with said contact plate in response to manual actuation of said plunger, said plunger having means forming a lag thereon substantially on the other side of the axis of said plunger from said straight section, [spring operated] means cooperating withsaid lag for locking said plunger in actuated position and thereby holding the contacts moved by it out of engagement with said conductive plate [to prevent said contacts-from contacting 7. said plate], and means contained in said plug forreleasing said locking means [when said plug is inserted in], said locking means of said receptacle having a control member positioned on "the other side of the axis of said plunger from said straight section and actuated by said plug means in response to movement of assembly of said plug to said receptacle.

4. In a hospital signalling system, a plug and receptacle combination in which the plug has a plurality of electrical contacts and the receptacle has a plurality of corresponding spring-like electrical contacts, means comprising an electrically conductive plate adapted for contacting said contacts in said receptacle and thereby [short circuiting] interconnecting the circuits con nected to said contacts when said plug isremoved from said receptacle, and means for manually preventing said contacts from contacting said plate, said last-mentioned means including a manually operated plunger having a frustoconical section cooperating with said contacts in said receptacle, spring operated means for locking said plunger in position to prevent said contacts from contacting said plate and means contained in said plug for releasing said locking means when said plug is inserted in said receptacle, said releasing means comprising a camacting surface in said plug cooperating with an extension of said spring operated means.

5. A signalling plug and receptacle construction comprising a plug body having a plurality of plug contacts projecting from its bottom end, a receptacle body having an end face provided with a plurality of recesses for entry thereinto of plug contacts and having contact elements therein engageable by the plug contacts for thereby extending signalling circuits, said receptacle body having a movable spring-biased generally cylindrical member having a frusto-conical section and a stem section of reduced diameter of insulating material that is projectable out of said end face through an aperture therein and said plug body having a hollow space in its bottom end into which a portion of said stem section of said movable member may enter, said receptacle body having an aperture laterally spaced from the aperture through which said projectable stem section is projectable, means including said contact elements [plug contacts] responsive to disengagement of said plug from said receptacle for effecting closure of at least certain of said signalling circuits and means including said frusto-conical section responsive to inward movement of said movable member from its projected position for effecting opening of the signalling circuits that are closed in response to disengagement of the plug contacts from the receptacle, a movable control member carried by said receptacle body and accessible through said last-mentioned aperture and having means operating to hold said spring-biased member in inward position against the bias of its spring and operable in response to movement of said control member to release said springbiased member for outward projection, and means exposed at the bottom end of said plug body and substantially juxtaposed to said second-mentioned aperture [and movable relative to said plug body] for engagement with said movable control member to effect movement [thereon] thereof in a direction to release said movable spring-biased member.

6. A signalling plug and receptacle construction as claimed in claim in which said lastmentioned means comprises a cam element at the bottom end of the plug body, said cam element having a cam face that is inclined to the direction of movement of assembly of the plug body to the receptacle body to thereby effect movement of said movable control element upon assembly of the plug body and its plug contacts to the receptacle body and its contact elements respectively.

[7. A signalling plug and receptacle construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said last mentioned means comprises an operating element having means mounting it for movement relative to the plug body and along a path to engage said moveable control member and eifecting movement thereof, and means operable from the exterior of said plug body for effecting movement of said moveable element] [8. A signalling plug and receptacle construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said last mentioned means comprises an operating element having means mounting it for movement relative to the plug body and along a path to engage said moveable control member and effecting movement thereof, said receptacle body hav 9. A signalling plug and receptacle construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said springbiased projectable member of the receptacle body and the hollow space in the bottom end of the plug body are positioned substantially at the central axis of the assembled plug body and receptacle body, said movable control member having means mounting it for movement in a general direction toward and away from said axis, said means at the bottom end of the plug body for eifecting movement of said control member comprising cam means engageable with said control member upon movement of assembly of the plug body to the receptacle body and having a cam face to resolve the force of said movement of assembly into a radial component to effect movement of said control member.

10. A signalling plug and receptacle construction comprising a plug body having plug contacts and a receptacle body having a plurality of recesses for the reception of plug contacts into the receptacle recesses, a plurality of spring contacts carried by said receptacle body and respectively exposed in such recesses for engagement by such plug contacts as are entered thereinto, said spring contacts being biased inwardly and said receptacle body having therein conductive means with which said inwardly biased contact springs engage, whereby, upon disassembly of said plug body from said receptacle body, said spring contacts move inwardly and engage said conductive means, spring opposed movable means within said receptacle body but extending beyond said receptacle body into a recess in said plug body and adapted upon depression to force said spring contacts out of engagement with said conductive means and having means operating in response to depression to hold it against retrograde movement, said holding means having an operating member extending beyond said receptacle body into a second recess in said plug body, said second recess having cam means for engaging said operating member, said operating member being accessible for manual opera- 9 tion when said plug is removed from said receptacle.

11. A signalling plug and receptacle construction comprising a receptacle body having an end face and a plurality of recesses distributed in a group and accessible through said end face for the reception of plug contacts into all Said receptacle recesse excepting at least one of them, a plug body having a group of plug contacts which are less in number than said recesses whereby to provide a space in the plug body that is unoccupied by a plug contact, spring contacts carried by said receptacle body and respectively exposed in all of said recesses excepting at lea t said one recess for engagement respectiv ly by such plug contacts as are entered thereinto upon assembl of the plug body to the receptacle body wherebiy upon such assembly sa d one recess is juxtaposed to said space in said plug body, s id spring contacts being biased inwardly and said receptacle body having therein conductive means with which said inwardly biased cont ct springs engage, whereby, upon di assembly of s d plug body from said receptacle body, said spring contacts move inwardly and engage said conductive means, spring-opposed movable means within said receptacle body but extending beyond said end face of said receptacle body into a recess in said plug body and adapted upon depression to efiect disengagement of sa d spring contacts from said conductive means and having means operating in response to depression to hold it against retrograde movement, said holding means ea:- tending into that one receptacle recess that is juxtaposed to said space in said plug bod and having an operating member extend ng therefro and beyond the end face of said receptacle body whereby it is accessible for manual operation when said plug is removed from said r ceptacle, said plug body having cam means positioned in said space and thereby juxtaposed to said one receptacle recess for engaging and actuating sa d operating member upon assembly of said plug to the receptacle.

12. A signalling plug and receptacle construction for a plurality of signalling circuits having a common return line comprising a plug body having plug contacts and a receptacle body having a plurality of recesses for the reception of plug contacts into the receptacle recesses, a plural ty of spring contacts carried by said receptacle body and respectively exposed in said recesses for engagement respectively b plug contacts entered thereinto for thereby extending a plurality of signalling circuits, said spring contacts having conductor-connectors respectively al gned therewith for the connection thereto of conductors of said signalling circuits and with the common return line thereof connectable to one of said conductor-connectors whereby the common return line of said circuits is extended by the engagement between one of said plug contacts and said one of said spring contacts and the other sides of said circuits are extended by engagement of other of said plug contacts w th other of said spring contacts, conductive means carried by said receptacle body and coo erativel related to said spring contacts, said spring contacts being biased toward said conduct ve means for engagement therewith whereby, upon disassembly of said plug body from said receptacle body, said spring contacts move into engagement with said conductive means, and manually movable control means carried by said receptacle body for opening circuits closed by engagement of said spring contacts with said conductive means and having means responding to actuation thereof to force only said other receptacle spring cont cts out of engagement with said conductive means and to leave said one spring contact substantially unmoved in its recess whereby to identify its conductor-connector as the one to which to connect said common return line and also decrease the force necessary to actuate said movable control means.

13. A signalling plug and receptacle construction for a plurality of signalling circuits having a common return line comprising a plug body having plug contacts and a receptacle body having a plurality of recesse jor the reception of plug contacts into the receptacle recesses, a plurality of spring contacts carried by said receptacle body and respect vely exposed in said recesses for engagement respectively by plug contacts entered thereinto for therebyextending a plurality of signalling circuits, said spring contacts hav ng conductor-connectors respectively aligned therewith for the connection thereto of conductors of said signalling circuits and with the common return line thereof connectable to one of said conductor-connectors whereby the common return l ne or said circuits is extended by the engagement between one of said plug contacts and said one of said spring contacts and the other sides of said circuits are extended by engagement of other of said plug contacts with other of said spring contacts, and conductive means carried by said receptacle body and cooperatively related to said spring contacts, said spr ng contacts being biased toward said conductive means for engagement therewith whereby, upon disassembly of said plug body from said receptacle body, said spring contacts move into engagement with said conductive means, said receptacle body having movable control means, said movable control means and only said other receptacle spring contacts having coacting cam-acting parts responsive to actuation of said control means to force only said other spring contacts away from said conductive means and to leave said one spring contact substantiall unmoved in its recess 'whereby to identify its conductor-connector as the one to which to connect sa d common return line and also decrease the force necessary to actuate said movable control means.

CHRISTIAN MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,513 Kenerson May 30, 1933 2,239,035 Curtiss Apr. 22, 1941 2,405,735 Crockett Aug. 13, 1946 2,475,149 Miller July 5, 1949 

